Boys Basketball: Downingtown West rolls over Avon Grove
DOWNINGTOWN >> Even though the Downingtown West boys basketball team was shorthanded due to COVID-19 complications, they received contributions from throughout the lineup, plus the usual superb play of junior point guard Dylan Blair to roll to a 74-61 Ches-Mont League National Division win.
Senior Cooper Hardin led all scorers with 22 points while Blair added 20 to go along with 10 assists in the Whippets’ wire-to-wire victory.
“We were without our big man Jake Warren as we fight through this COVID stuff,” Downingtown West coach Stu Ross said. “So for us, tonight was a next man up type of thing and we got contributions from a lot of guys. These guys work hard every day in practice and guys made the most of their opportunities tonight. It was a total team effort and win tonight.”
Downingtown West (1-0, Ches-Mont, 3-1 overall) used an 8-0 run in the second period to take over the game from the Red Devils (0-2, 3-2). Avon Grove had its only lead of the night at 19-18, but the Whippets took over.
Drew Shelton scored on a follow shot. After a Red Devils’ miss, Hardin drove the lane for a basket. Avon Grove then turned the ball over and Blair hit medium range jumper. The run stopped when Tyler Newman scored on a layup, but West had a 33-23 lead at halftime. West shot 12-for-24 from the field in the first half.
The Whippets extended their lead to 49-37 late in the third when Blair hit freshman Donovan Fromhartz for an inside basket and cruised form there.
Avon Grove then got a basket from Aidan Violette, who led the Red Devils with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. The Whippets closed the third with a three-ball from Chris Owsik, who drained three treys on the night and finished with 11 points.
“We knew we had to all step up tonight with Jake out,’ Hardin said. “We really all have confidence in each other and we all have each other’s back. We play together and we have a lot of guys that can score. Tonight was my night to step up.”
The two teams played a tough fourth period, but Avon Grove could not cut into the deficit. Kelly Bell scored off a turnover with an inside basket and it was a 55-40 Whippets lead. Avon Grove turned the ball over 15 times on the night — 10 in the second half — but they did not quit as they played hard until the final whistle for coach Ikeem Mays.
Violette scored on a runner to make it 57-44 with just under six minutes to play. Fromhartz scored in tight to up the lead to 59-44. Avon Grove then threw the ball away and Blair fed Hardin for a layup.
Mike Britton, who played well off the bench for the Red Devils, knocking in 11 points, scored a three-point play to close the lead to 63-51, with 2:59 left.
But Hardin scored again and Owsik drained a corner three-ball for a commanding 68-51 lead, and the Whippets opened up Ches-Mont National Division play with a win.
“It is great to have Dylan on our team,” Hardin said. “He is a great floor general and he makes us look good with his passes. I know he hit me quite a few times tonight and he always seems to be in control for us.”
Downingtown West 74, Avon Grove 61
AVON GROVE: Arnold 6 0-3 13, Cox 2 0-0 4, Britton 4 3-4 11, Rozman 0 0-0 0, Violette 5 2-4 15, Newman 3 0-0 6, Ziegler 3 1-2 9, Anthony 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 6-13 61.
DOWNINGTOWN WEST: Blair 8 3-4 20, hardin 10 0-0 22, Fromhartz 3 2-3 8, Bell 1 0-0 2, Oliver 1 0-0 2, Owsik 3 2-2 11, Poluch 1 0-0 2, Shelton 2 2-4 6, Primanti 0 1-2 1, Hickey 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 10-15 74.
Avon Grove 11 12 17 21-61
Downingtown West 16 17 20 21-74
3-point goals: Arnold, Violette 3, Ziegler 2, Blair, Hardin 2, Owsik 3.
